Not a lot I really enjoyed here, it feels less like there was a narrative and more a series of strung along nerd references and in jokes rather than mNot a lot I really enjoyed here, it feels less like there was a narrative and more a series of strung along nerd references and in jokes rather than motivations.

The over explaining style of writing (less is more!) along with an overuse of buzzwords and adjectives to keep the descriptions ~interesting~ put me right off tbh. I think the sort of growing YA SF about nerds thing with its overwhelming meta jokes and excessive references is probably something I should stay away from.

I was excited about this book I'd heard good things and I'm an absolute sucker for novels that use excessive forest imagery.

Sadly the narrative in thI was excited about this book I'd heard good things and I'm an absolute sucker for novels that use excessive forest imagery.

Sadly the narrative in this book is just sort of a wreck. A collision of various fairytales, awful unlikeable and boring characters and really really damaging YA tropes, all left predictable and unassessed or subverted. Including the weird stockholm syndrome kidnapping romance and all an uptight dick of a man needs is ~someone special~ to come along and change him. There's also a heavy handed metaphor in using young maiden girls to syphon off ~evil~ powers that was pretty disgusting too.

More than one star because it was for the most part really easy and pleasant to read, Novik has a nice rhythm (I guess?) to her work, so even when the phrasings get clumsy or the action passages terrible, they're still nice to read which... quite impressive really. Does mean I'll probably give some of her other books a shot at some point.

Bit disappointing. I feel like even if the ending had been the slightest bit more cluey I would have enjoyed it 10 times more though....more

I was really worried they'd be a dull compared to the tv show, but no, this book is just as much fun as the tv series.

They're light books, fun chaotiI was really worried they'd be a dull compared to the tv show, but no, this book is just as much fun as the tv series.

They're light books, fun chaotic action adventures, but the writing is quite clumsy and it's very much in the wish fufillment type of text that stops it looking to deeply at any of the issues Phryne dashes in and saves people from. Difficult to not compare with Lady Molly of Scotland Yardwhich is a similar style of book (though different location and time periods) which has much stronger writing, if much more overt issues. ...more

A sweet little snippet. Not really any narrative but it's written very prettily. Part of a larger series of work that I haven't read so the context isA sweet little snippet. Not really any narrative but it's written very prettily. Part of a larger series of work that I haven't read so the context is a little off. ...more

**spoiler alert** Odd little horror short. Earlier Vampires? Sort of. I feel like this should be put in discussions and comparisons with Carmilla or D**spoiler alert** Odd little horror short. Earlier Vampires? Sort of. I feel like this should be put in discussions and comparisons with Carmilla or Dracula or something, though it doesn't really have the depth. Wouldn't mind reading more of Fortunes work though, even if the writing is a bit iffy style wise.

Weird going to an Australian writer from this time period from Orczy though. ...more

I really really really need a tv series of this book. It would make a prefect procedural, a cross between Sherlock Holmes and Miss Fisher's Murders. AI really really really need a tv series of this book. It would make a prefect procedural, a cross between Sherlock Holmes and Miss Fisher's Murders. A lady and her (steadily promoted throughout the series) assistant solving 'unsolvable' mysteries that Scotland Yard can't ending with catch cries like "Our fellows did not think of that, because they are men".

It isn't perfect and Orczy's creepy beliefs in the importance and superiority of nobility shine right through in some really awful paragraphs throughout but it's just so engaging and enjoyable despite all that gross shite. idek. About as much a guilty pleasure in that regard as most modern TV show procedurals and it's a lot more loveable....more

I enjoyed this a lot as light reading. A collection of solid, if aimed very young, fantasy and SF shorts. Nothing particularly original but full of moI enjoyed this a lot as light reading. A collection of solid, if aimed very young, fantasy and SF shorts. Nothing particularly original but full of mostly fun worlds with a wide variety of women. Some annoying tropes, none over used (though the hair cutting one gave me the creeps). ...more

Solid fun. Another anthropologists visit Medieval times via space travel and Other Worlds one. Quite young? In how it's written but reasonably fun advSolid fun. Another anthropologists visit Medieval times via space travel and Other Worlds one. Quite young? In how it's written but reasonably fun adventure with complex enough themes and characterisation.

Was hoping for coded lesbians but sadly heterosexuality one the day, and our heroine got the bloke :(...more

Fun old skool 'on a distant planet' space action. So Leigh Brackett at her best I'm told.

Its not anything new or rule breaking, but it's quite fun anFun old skool 'on a distant planet' space action. So Leigh Brackett at her best I'm told.

Its not anything new or rule breaking, but it's quite fun and would make an excellent cheesy sword and sorcery crossed with space opera movie, it's written in a visual style rather than anything introspective. Though the world is understated there's still a lot of complexity and characterisation there.

Would have bloody helped if I'd read the first though. Probably would have had a much better idea of what was going on. Definitely doesn't give you an introduction, you just jump straight in. ...more

Deffo better than the first which I also well enjoyed. She has a gift for writing fun adventure and romance. In this one dials down a little the epicDeffo better than the first which I also well enjoyed. She has a gift for writing fun adventure and romance. In this one dials down a little the epic rants on the importance and value of aristocracy and disgusting nature of equality. ...more

Powerful book that pointedly eviscerates tropes and cliches around The Unwilling a Time Traveller by forcing a lens on how black women we treated. ShePowerful book that pointedly eviscerates tropes and cliches around The Unwilling a Time Traveller by forcing a lens on how black women we treated. She takes what we know of as a science fiction narratives and tropes and breaks down why this is broken beautifully and naturally via the narrative.

Points made even stronger as that strength with judgements made both of American slave farms as well as the caustic treatments of the "modern"1970s and the white mans behaviour.

Everyone should read it! Victorian lesbians and paranormal romance only so completely far from what you would normally think with those buzzwords andEveryone should read it! Victorian lesbians and paranormal romance only so completely far from what you would normally think with those buzzwords and completely the opposite of shit.

Instead an amazing beautiful hypnotising book with a ending that left me fucking devastated. An ending I should add that just off plot points would normally leave me cheering. So well done author, excellent trolling through use of narrative perspective and characterisation.

Genuinely enjoyed this one, it was very beautiful and interesting and takes advantage of that niche space between genres so you don't really know whatGenuinely enjoyed this one, it was very beautiful and interesting and takes advantage of that niche space between genres so you don't really know what to call it. I still bloody hate bees though, there was just enough anthromorphism to mean I was grossed out with hate the entire time too.

Hopkins narration in the story, moving from paranormal to portal fiction, to adventure to activist throughout the story isI really liked this novel.

Hopkins narration in the story, moving from paranormal to portal fiction, to adventure to activist throughout the story is actually really beautiful. That said it does get a little confusing at times, I suspect though in part because I'm reading it as a novel rather than a collected serial....more

This is really good. A well realised dystopian future with the old style science fiction of two dudes pontificating on the world.

Only instead of theThis is really good. A well realised dystopian future with the old style science fiction of two dudes pontificating on the world.

Only instead of the usual shallow logic you get an indepth and complex look at the books themes of social structure, and how empire, governance and religion affect our views on gender, sexuality and social structure. With a side dose of the value of knowing history. All history.

I like this book more than 1984 and Man In The High Castle, but the comparisons seem a bit unfair. It's a very different book....more